Towing Question

I am on the verge of purchasing my first camper since I got rid of my big dodge. Will my V6 DCSB be able to pull this........

 

I say yeah

 

Hell yes, I've been pulling my Sunset Trail (ST31SK) with no issues. With that being said, I will not tow it with my tacoma in the white mountains... I stay on pretty even grounds. With the proper config you can remain safe, as long as you take your time.

 

The only places I will be pulling it is from Winston-Salem, NC to Myrtle Beach or to Florida. Not going to be climbing any mountains. I know they say the towing limit is 6500 lbs. but I am a little hesitant to put that much weight behind that small of a truck even though this is only 3000 dry weight it is about as much as I would want to pull.

 

Holy Crap!!! I just looked up the specs for it and that camper is 5995 dry......how in the world are you managing that?!?

 

I have a 2006 DCSB v-6 and a trailer very similar in weight capacities and size to yours. The truck tows it fine. On a good day on the highway without the trailer I can get a little over 20 mpg. Hook up the trailer and the mpg drops to 12!

First time towing I didn't realize I needed to pay attention to the gasoline level and nearly ran out. Keep an eye on it. On hills it does just ok, I'm not heavy on the throttle and can manage 55 miles per hour most of the time. On steep climbs 50 mph or less without pushing the pedal through the floor.

We use an easy lift hitch assembly without a sway control bar and even in fairly strong winds I don't experience much side to side movement. We have trailer brakes as well.

Since we do not tow the trailer too often I'm ok with the Tacoma. If my plan was to tow any significant distances even as often as once a month then I'd upgrade the truck.

John

 

why don't you take your manual, and look into it? you have either 3500 or 6500lbs towing capacity depending if you have the tow package or not. If you have it, you are ok, even fully loaded, if not, you can't.

 

You will be fine. If you do not have the tow package, go have the company you buy the camper from install the hitch, brake controller, and transmission cooler if it's an automatic. Then you will be legal. Enjoy.

 

I hope you have the tow package. Also, a good brake controller, weight distributing hitch and anti-sway set-up will make it much easier going.

 

I already have all the weight distribution hitches from previous campers that I have owned. I knew what the owners manual said, but sometimes they over exagerate some things. A 6,500 lb. camper is heavy as crap and to say a V6 truck is able to efficiently pull it is ridiculous. I have towed 20-38 ft. travel trailers and 5th wheels with my 3500 Dodge I use to have but was just wanting some peoples opinions that have towed any amount of weight with the Tacoma.

 

You're good.

 

You are going to be way over 3000# fast 290# of water 100# of propane tanks 60# of battery and all the junk you'r going to take with you. When they say unloaded weight that is just the trailer with out so much as a tooth brush. You seem to have all the towing gear so you'll be all right but it will be easy to bring your weight up to 4000# pretty fast. I agree with you 6500# is a lot of weight for a small truck. I like the lay out does the bed fold up?

 

The towing capacity is stated at 6,500 lbs but there is a big difference between a low 6,500 lb trailer and a travel trailer. The Tacoma will tow 6,500 lbs but it won't be real happy about it and if it's a big ol' box catching a lot of wind, it won't do that well with that amount of weight coupled with wind resistance.

 

Exactly. It is much easier to haul a flat bed trailer with a bunch of 4 wheelers on it than a camper. But after seeing what some people pull with their Tacoma's I am pretty sure that I will be fine.

 

You'll be fine with that trailer.
I experimented this hunting season and rented a 23' hybrid (about 3900lbs$ and an 18'6" Jayco hard side(about 2500lbs). The truck pulled both great and was very stable. I had a weight distributing hitch and sway bars with the larger trailer and they definitely helped. Couldnt tell the thing was back there unless accelerating or braking - but gas mileage was sobering, about 7-8mpg running 65-70.
With the smaller trailer & regular hitch the ride was still stable & very easy pulling. Gas mileage was around 9-11.
Based on this experience I'm looking for a 17-19' hard side camper to purchase for next season.

 

If you have the tow package and you upgrade the leafs im sure you would be fine, Maybe consider installing some better shocks too?

 

BTW - my truck is an 09' 4X4 DCSB. I have the full factory tow package and an OME 3" lift with upgraded Dakar rear leaf kit - so the truck is about as "tow ready" as a Tacoma can be. Just wanted you to be able to compare "apples to apples" with your setup. I'll try to post a pic of my truck later with the last camper hooked up to it during my recent trip.
If Toyota were to offer a turbo diesel option in the Tacoma in the future - I would buy one and never look back. As it is, I'm so happy with this truck that I'm looking to fit a camper to the truck rather than the other way around.
BTW - that's a really nice looking small camper! Should be a lot of fun.

 

Here's mine with the Jayco 19.6 BH trailer I recently rented for a hunting trip to KY.

 

This is the same weight of the trailer I towed with my Tacoma. It's good match. Truck works to pull it but won't kill it.
July 4th weekend on the Bonneville Salt Flats.